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Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Biomarker in Cardiovascular Disease

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Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease

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Abstract

Epicardial adipose tissue is the visceral fat depot of the heart with unique anatomical and functional properties. Epicardial fat can be considered a novel biomarker of cardiovascular disease. Its thickness can be visualized and measured using standard two-dimensional echocardiography with several advantages, including its low cost, easy accessibility, and good reproducibility. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness reflects the intra-abdominal visceral fat and intramyocardial fat accumulation. Epicardial fat thickness is related to traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors. Epicardial fat thickness correlates and predicts the risk of metabolic syndrome. Epicardial fat has been associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, independent of traditional cardiometabolic risk factor and coronary calcification. Given its rapid metabolism and its simple objective measurability, epicardial fat can serve as target for pharmaceutical agents targeting the adipose tissue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1400 NW 10th Ave, Dominion Tower suite 805-807, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Gianluca Iacobellis

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  1. Gianluca Iacobellis
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Correspondence to Gianluca Iacobellis .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

  2. Sciences Division, King's College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

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Iacobellis, G. (2015). Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Biomarker in Cardiovascular Disease. In: Patel, V., Preedy, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7741-5_13-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7741-5_13-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7741-5

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